Our planet is a gift from God. He created the earth to be our home, a source of life and food for everyone and everything on it. Genesis 2:15 says that when God was making the earth ‘‘The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it’- he made us stewards of creation. Just as we would treat a gift from a friend with love and respect, we should look after God’s gift of creation, too. Because creation is a gift, humanity needs to recognise and take up responsibility for this gift. As we are created in God’s image, we too should look after, nurture, and ensure the continuation of the plants and animals on the planet.
Recently this Catholic social teaching principle has come to the forefront of people’s attention. With ever worsening reports on the future of our planet, and Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si to ‘care for our common home’, individuals are now feeling compelled to listen to “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”. Fossil fuels are damaging the atmosphere of the planet, average global temperatures are rising, the polar ice caps are melting causing sea levels to rise, and the Amazon Rainforest, the earth’s lungs, are being cleared at a rate of one football field every single minute. These are all contributing to what is being called ‘climate change’. Climate change is altering the very nature of the earth, making areas less hospitable for people, plants and animals. There are also more extreme weather events like droughts, floods, tropical storms and crop failures. These disasters tend to hit the poorest communities of the world first, as they have less infrastructure to protect against these phenomena. Climate migration is becoming increasingly common with whole communities fleeing the effects of changes to their natural environments.
Increasingly profits and money are taking precedence over humans and businesses. Many people are becoming more wrapped up in consumerism, buying and having things that they don’t really need, without thinking about the cost that this has on the environment. Items are thrown away without thought and wasted without hesitation. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis observes that “our earth is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth”. It is our responsibility to change how we treat the earth, becoming more in tune with the needs of the planet, and those living on it. We need to re-engage with our role of being the species that looks after the world, not those who destroy it.
Examples:
In 2019 the United Nations released research done by leading scientists on the loss of plant and animal life, or the biodiversity of the planet. The report showed that around 1 million species face extinction, much of which could happen within the next few decades. It also outlined the fact that the number of species on the planet has reduced by an average of 20% in the last 120 years. The most sensitive types of animals have been hit the worst, with the number of amphibian groups decreasing by 40% and one third of each coral type and marine mammals facing extinction. However, it is not just animals that are affected, 75% of natural environments had been severely changed by human activities, altering the habitats of plants and animals living on the lands.
The Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The increase in global temperatures and melting polar ice caps is increasing the levels of the seas across the planet. As a result, coastal flooding and land erosion is a real worry for those living on islands like Fiji, Hawaii, and the Mariana Islands. Activists from the area have come together to have their voices heard by the international community. They shout ‘We are not drowning. We are fighting’. They want people from across the globe to change their lifestyles, realise that their actions have consequences and call on governments to change policy to protect the environment. https://world.350.org/pacificwarriors/
In November 2009 floods in Cockermouth, Cumbria, devastated the local area causing businesses, schools and homes to be closed for over a year. There had been a record amount of rainfall earlier on in the month, then on 19th November, a record amount of rain fell (316mm in one day). This in part was caused by the sea temperature around the Azores being 2-3°C above average, moistening the air which was then blown towards the UK. Because of the sloping surrounding area, and lack of trees to slow down the surface water runoff, the water soon gained depth and momentum. This was not helped by tarmacked and stoned roads as they are impermeable, so water carried on flowing, not able to be absorbed by the ground. The flood water reached Cockermouth at a height of 2.5 meters costing £275 million in damages.
What can you do?
- Make green hearts this February. Wear what you have made, encourage your friends and family to do the same to show the world you care about climate justice.
- Give up eating meat one day a week.
- Use your left overs from the night before as a lunch or snack the next day.
- Give up single use plastic and opt for more sustainable items.
- Encourage others to live a more sustainable and simple lifestyle.
- Try your hand at gardening, grow your own fruit and veg!
- Join in with climate strikes happening across the UK and show your love for the planet.
- Get some ideas for action from our CST page on caring for our planet, being sure you pledge your action here.
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